CAE Partners with AirAsia to Build an Aviation Training Centre

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Jan. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - CAE announced it has selected Kuala Lumpur as the location for its Southeast Asian training hub, and that it will leverage its existing partnership with AirAsia to develop an aviation centre of excellence and expand within the region. This news follows the announcement in November that CAE had signed a contract to manage AirAsia's Type Rating Training Organization (TRTO) located at the AirAsia Academy to provide pilot training for all of AirAsia's current and future pilots.

Y.B. Dato' Sri Chan Kong Choy, Minister of Transport of Malaysia said: "We are delighted that CAE has chosen Kuala Lumpur as the strategic location for its training hub in Southeast Asia. We anticipate that the partnership between CAE, a market leader in aviation training, and AirAsia, Asia's leading and largest low cost carrier, will bring best-in-class training services to the doorstep of airlines in the region, resulting in improved quality of cadets and enhanced safety in operations."

Dato' Tony Fernandes, Group Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia Berhad said: "We look forward to further enhancing our partnership with CAE by working together to develop the training hub. This announcement reinforces AirAsia's leadership in the aviation industry across Southeast Asia. Working with CAE, with its years of expertise in building world-class aviation training organizations, will enable us to jointly offer the most modern standards in flight training to airlines across Southeast Asia."

"Southeast Asia is one of the fastest growing markets for aviation in the world," said Jeff Roberts, Group President, Innovation and Civil Training & Services at CAE. "With a huge delivery of aircraft expected in the region over the next few years, the region needs to establish the infrastructure, support, and standards to ensure the highest quality pilot and maintenance training. Developing this hub with AirAsia will not only enable us to bring pilot and maintenance training in Southeast Asia to the next level, it will give Asian customers the convenience of completing their training close to home."

The AirAsia Academy, located near the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Low Cost Carrier Terminal Sepang, is currently equipped with three simulators: two CAE-built Airbus A320s belonging to AirAsia and a Boeing 737-300 owned by CAE. CAE has already committed to add another Airbus A320 simulator and an Airbus A330 simulator over the next 12 months. CAE will add full-flight simulators, advanced training aids, a simulation based training curriculum and courseware that meet market demand.

CAE offers training services for pilots and maintenance technicians via a network of 24 aviation training centres to a range of clients worldwide. To address the worldwide shortage of pilots, CAE founded the CAE Global Academy, a global network of flight training organizations. One of the founding members of the CAE Global Academy, HM Aerospace, is located in Malaysia.

Southeast Asia is currently experiencing a severe shortage of pilots. It is expected that more than 1,000 pilots will be required per year in the region over the next 20 years to meet the expanding needs of the industry.

About CAE

CAE (NYSE: CGT; TSX: CAE) is a world leader in providing simulation and modelling technologies and integrated training solutions for the civil aviation industry and defence forces around the globe. With annual revenues exceeding C$1 billion, CAE employs approximately 6,000 people at more than 75 sites and training locations in 20 countries. We have the largest installed base of civil and military full-flight simulators and training devices. Through our global network of 27 civil aviation and military training centres, we train more than 75,000 crewmembers yearly. We also offer modelling and simulation software to various market segments and through CAE's professional services division, we assist customers with a wide range of simulation-based needs. www.cae.com

About AirAsia

AirAsia was recognized at the 2007 Frost & Sullivan Industrial Technologies Awards. The coveted Human Capital Development Award is presented to AirAsia Academy in recognition of the airline's demonstration of excellence in improving their training quality and human capital development within the industry. AirAsia has consistently shown innovation in competitive strategies to stay ahead in this challenging market to emerge as the leading contender for this Award.

AirAsia has carried over 40 million passengers to date, grown from a 2-aircraft fleet to 62 today and now has the most extensive low cost route network in the region of over 80 routes - all within the grasp of six years in operation. The airline today is proud to be a truly ASEAN airline with its network stretches across 10 ASEAN countries.

In 2006, AirAsia added 13 brand new Airbus A320 aircraft to its fleet. The aircraft proves to be a winning choice as AirAsia guests enjoy bigger seating capacity, wider aisles, greater comfort and a quieter ride. Airbus A320 is reputed to be the most modern and sophisticated aircraft of its class, with high reliability and low operating costs. With 24 Airbus A320 now in operation, AirAsia will be adding 126 more to its fleet up to 2014, giving it the largest, youngest and most modern fleet in the region. For more
information, log on to www.airasia.com.